Sometime ago I exported my MGB to Cyprus but due to some weird logic the Cyprus Authorities refused to register the car and my B had to be returned to the UK. My boss was very generous and in its place I now have a bright, shiny, new flame red MGF 1.8i. So I thought it would be a good idea to put down my thoughts on the comparison of the two vehicles. I’ve had my B since it was three months old, it is a 1978 model with 70,000 on the clock and still drives like new. It is virtually original with no engine or suspension modifications, only new leather seats from the Club, stainless exhaust and petrol tank. A fair amount of body and paint work has been done from time to time with lots of oil treatment since new. The MGF is also standard and clearly not yet run in.

Appearance: The MGF to my mind is pretty but the MGB is beautiful. A real classic although I remember I was quite sniffy about Bs when I was driving a TD.

Seating: The original seats on the B weren’t good enough and I put up with them far too long for the sake of originality. However, the B seating is low down with legs straight, although the F seating is higher with legs bent, the seats give good support. You get into the F but you wear the B.

Bumpers: It is difficult to see the front of the F. Fortunately there is little overhang, but I do feel vulnerable in very tight spots with all that plastic front and rear. There is a lot to be said for the rubber bumpers of my B.

Engine: Clearly many of you know the gentle chatter of tappets from the B engine but on its last trip in Cyprus down a single carriage road it still easily wound itself up to 90mph (highly illegal) and 4000rpm. The F is clearly faster, 50mph is a steady 2000rpm while the mid mounted engine is so quiet at tick over you think it has stalled. I find it very frustrating that the power unit of the F can’t be properly seen.

Gear box: The six speed box in the B to my mind is the next best gearbox I’ve ever driven. The best was virtually the same box in a Triumph Dolomite Sprint. Only better because the reduction in revs was 20% instead of 10% because there was somewhat more power in the Sprint engine. A typical result of this is the long legged performance of the B. Imagine meeting a long hill at say 70mph in overdrive top, you switch out and come to the summit still in 4th without any interruption in power due to clutch operation. I like the F gearbox. It is the first 5 speed box on which I can make proper use of 4th gear. There is a massive drop in engine revs from 4th to 5th, 50mph in 4th is 3000rpm and 2000rpm in 5th. But on my imaginary hill climb I’m sure I would need to use the clutch and I fancy the B would be first to reach the top.

Controls: Nothing special about the pedals on the B. The accelerator and brake pedals could have been a lot better for heeling and toeing but it is possible. The literature on the F claims it will be appreciated by drivers who want to heel and toe. Not true, the brake pedal is higher than both the clutch and accelerator and I will have to fit a thick shim to the accelerator. At least its drilled already ! Rover should be taken to the Advertising Standards Authority for this claim. The older Rover 200 heels and toes beautifully, so the design skills still exist.

Instrumentation: There is little to choose between the two cars here except that the loss of an oil pressure gauge on the F is criminal. An oil temperature gauge as an addition I would accept but this has been substituted to save money. Perhaps the Club will investigate whether the fitting point for the temperature sensor would be suitable for a pressure gauge (very likely) and produce a suitable replacement from one of our suppliers. The gauges on the F are very attractive in cream with an MG logo. The clock and the oil temperature gauge appear black at night. One other criticism of the F the head lamp dip switch is double action rather than the single movement on the B. This causes too much delay when dipping the main beam.

Interior: The courtesy lighting on the F is super and the map lights on the mirror are very good. The delay before the lights extinguish is excellent. Interior lighting in the B leaves something to be desired. There is a definite lack of storage space in the F, despite lots of space on the dashboard which is totally unusable because its not flat. The B is nowhere near perfect in this respect but there is the glove compartment and the shelf behind the seats. This space also will hold a large suitcase even if it has to be loaded through the hood window. The sunshades on the F are split in two because the hood catches interfere. I like the ability on my B to use the shade on the driver’s window. Particularly useful in the hot sunshine of Cyprus. Electric windows drive me mad unless they are very sophisticated, I’m always having to replace the ignition key. If the manufacturers really want to provide a very useful electric goody it is electric mirrors. The mirrors on both cars leave a lot to be desired.

Steering: I was always happy with the steering on the B, a bit heavy at parking speed but not unduly. My first reaction to the F was that the dealer had supplied the car with power steering. In fact after driving but a few miles I parked and looked for the hydraulics. I can’t think even the smallest of the ladies would need power steering. The steering is very precise and more forgiving than the B. To drive the B fast around the corners takes real concentration which I would still advise on the F but it will get around most corners 10mph faster

Brakes: The B with front discs and a servo is fine but there is need for heavy foot pressure at times. Discs all round on the F are excellent, although as yet I haven’t had to hit them hard.

Weather equipment: The B has both long and short tonneaux and certainly on the later models a satisfactory hood. OK the hood is a little difficult to handle but with practice it’s fine. The F has a short tonneau but for the life in me I’ve not succeeded in fitting it despite several attempts. The hood is very good and can be lowered from the driving seat without any difficulty although I suspect it doesn’t do the rear window any favours. Putting it up from the driver’s seat is more difficult but not impossible. The lack of a full tonneau will be a nuisance in sunny weather (in Cyprus nearly the whole year) since if left topless the seats are going to burn and fade. There would appear to be no way of fitting one without disfiguring the dashboard.

Boot: The boot on the B is adequate. I inverted the spare wheel and kept my tools in there. Together with rear shelf a trip to the Mediterranean for two was not marred through lack of luggage space. The use of a boot rack was discontinued. It is such a nuisance when trying to get to the boot and a real security problem when the car is left. The luggage space in the F is a little better than a joke. A boot rack is a must and please Mr. Rover why are they £176? I can have a stainless steel one for the B for £50. Again MG suppliers please note. On the F there is enough spare room for another battery under the bonnet but the handbook advice is not to carry luggage in the front. For safety reasons I’m sure that this is wise.

Conclusions: For the first month of driving the F I would have been fairly negative. However now I’m well passed running in, (and I confess to half a mile at 100mph) it is fun. My B will also still do 100mph without any strain although I would normally keep it below 4000rpm, after all she is an old lady now. Both cars turn heads and still pull the discerning ladies to talk to a geriatric. Both cars are well engineered and both are very dependable transport. The B is far, far more practicable for touring. Steering and brakes are not as good but you would expect that given 19 years difference in manufacturing age. Performance of the F is better and the mid engine design is of the age. But the B’s performance is very adequate and over a 250 mile journey I would end up in the same place at the same time in either car.

The final conclusion though is that my B is a classic and I won’t part with it. The F perhaps is a classic, we shall see, but I won’t worry if I lose it as long as I can have my B back. All things being equal if you have £17-£18,000 to spend you would get an absolutely fabulous B, hand built and some change.

Which MG will be first among equals?

MGF in the shade.